Beyond Dependency: Economic Development, Capacity Building, and Generational Sustainability for Indigenous People in Canada

Abstract

Indigenous people in Canada have continuously been marginalized in economic participation due to an unequal relationship with the state. Many First Nations communities are looking to engage and be a part of the economy while overcoming this dependency. This article explores this unequal relationship and expands on how we can engage in economic activity from an Indigenous perspective to facilitate reconciliation. It takes into account community perspectives and concepts of traditional knowledge while looking at development, and partnerships while building economic capacity.